Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

B.C. premier's approval rating at all-time high

The government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have resulted in a massive increase in Horgan's approval ratings
premier-john-horgan-bc-may-20-2020
Premier John Horgan provides an update on the provincial response to COVID-19 on May 20, 2020. Photo: Province of British Columbia/Flickr

By Rob Gibson

A new survey by Insights West may have B.C. Premier John Horgan thinking about calling an election.

The Insights West latest government report card indicates BC NDP has improved their already strong approval ratings and support across the province and voting intentions have reached their highest level since Insights West tracking began eight years ago.

Perhaps not surprisingly, COVID-19 bumps out housing, climate change, and the economy as the most important issue facing B.C.

The government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have resulted in a massive increase in approval ratings for the BC NDP and Premier John Horgan. Before COVID-19, Horgan’s approval rating was strong, but the province's response to COVID-19 has added jet fuel to his ratings. Horgan's approval has risen by 17 points in just seven months to 68 per cent, which is also a first Insights West. No political leader in B.C. has had an approval rating that high since tracking began 8 years ago.

screen_shot_2020-07-14_at_9.43.24_am_p3468896Photo: Insights West

The news for B.C.'s other leaders is not so good. BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson's rating has dropped five points since November to 30 per cent. Interim Green leader Olsen has made his debut at a 29 per cent approval rating—this is the lowest of any Green leader since the 2017 election. Bolin from the BC Conservative Party has an 18 per cent approval.

If an election were to be held today Horgan would likely be looking at a relatively easy victory. The next provincial election is scheduled for May of 2021 however. Insights West indicates that if an election were held right now, the NDP would receive 47 per cent of the decided popular vote primarily at the expense of other parties that have seen their support diminish since the start of the pandemic.

Read more from Castanet